Intimacy

Communication

Legacy Building

Let go of the past. Make sense of the present. Build something amazing for the future.

Your Hosts

As co-hosts of The Marriage Podcast for Smart People with over 1,000,000 downloads, Caleb & Verlynda are hosting another cruise-based marriage retreat for Christian couples.

A seasoned public speaker and professional marriage therapist, Caleb will be sharing practical Bible teaching along with lessons learned from a decade of helping couples create thriving, passionate marriages.

You are sure to see your marriage grow, renew and flourish as you discover new, deeper ways to connect and strengthen your love for one another.

Learn more about Caleb & Verlynda by checking out their About Us page, or check out some of our audience's favorite podcast episodes:

Join Us This Winter!

Join Us This Winter!

Cruise + Retreat

The Marriage Cruise for Smart Couples is a retreat for married couples looking for relaxation, renewal, romance and life-long memories. The eight-day (seven nights) cruise sails from Miami, FL to Key West, Puerto Costa Maya, Cozumel and George Town, Grand Cayman. Hosted by Caleb & Verlynda Simonyi-Gindele, the marriage seminars feature inspiring, entertaining and educational messages that will transform your marriage. Think of it as similar to our Marriage Podcast for Smart People, but even more powerful and actionable. You can look forward to practical, refreshing and research-based content, great laughs with like-minded couples, and quality time with your spouse while sailing on the amazing Caribbean Sea.

Enjoy a dip in the pool, relax with a couples' massage in the Spa, hit the gym, grab some soft serve ice cream or order room service and get intimate in your stateroom. Whatever you'd like to do as a couple, there is a good chance you'll be able to do it! Join us for an unforgettable week on the high seas as you relax, renew, rediscover, romance and remember.

Imagine how nice it would be to spend time away and not have to worry about the day-to-day challenges of life at home. While the crew is taking care of your needs, we'll help you give your marriage the care and attention it deserves.

It is truly an experience like no other. We invite you to join us on the second annual Marriage Cruise for Smart Couples.

A Luxury Cruise Ship

Topped with a half-acre of soft grass, the Celebrity Equinox is an iconic ship resplendent with a plethora of amenities. There is more space to relax on this ship and to socialize in the warm sea air. Head upstairs and take a Hot Glass Class together. Inside, embark on a culinary adventure at Qsine® where you order from an iPad® menu. 85% of the ship's luxurious staterooms are enhanced by sweeping veranda views. Celebrity has truly created an extraordinary vacation experience. Again.

Make the most of your time together and continue your health, fitness and wellness routine while on board. You're invited to indulge your mind, body and spirit in the state-of-the-art fitness facilities with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows. Experience the profound pleasures of the spectacular spa setting with luxurious services and enlightening presentations designed to restore your serenity and leave you feeling fantastic.

Check Out Last Year's Cruise:

Transformational Retreat Topics

What if 2019 was the year your marriage turned a corner and became filled with joy, connection and satisfaction?

Research shows that marriage retreats of this length are most effective with about 12 hours of seminar time. We are planning the sessions so that we spend more time as a group on the two sea days and have shorter, morning sessions when the ship is in port so that you are free to enjoy excursions. You will also have marriage-enriching and enjoyable "homework" (don't worry, it will not feel like work!) exercises between sessions. As well, we have been very intentional about designing a retreat that is not just a flash in the pan experience, but truly creates a lasting, positive impact on your marriage. These 8 days are designed to change your life.

Hear about real-life challenges and have honest, open discussion with your spouse about issues we all face

Take confidence in learning from research based, marriage saving wisdom from a seasoned therapist

Enjoy the kind, humorous banter between Caleb & Verlynda as you are inspired with positive, hopeful truths about marriage

Retreat Session Details:

Welcome Reception

Purpose

Meet and greet your hosts, Caleb & Verlynda, as well as other retreat participants

Coordinates

Sky Conference Room

Saturday

5:00 PM

60 Minutes

Description

Our first group get-together is a chance to introduce yourselves (don't worry, no awkward group games!) and get to know Caleb & Verlynda while picking up your registration packet and retreat workbooks.

Session 1: Shortwave Radio Lessons

Purpose

To truly hear and be heard without misunderstandings or unnecessary conflict.

Coordinates

Sky Conference Room

Sunday

4:30 PM

60 Minutes

Description

Beginning with what may be the funniest marriage communication video of all time, you will learn how to use active listening to signal to your spouse that you are fully tracking with his or her comments. You’ll have repeated opportunities to practice this during the session 1 on 1 with your spouse, and with us coaching as we observe each couple implementing what you learn.

Session 2: Your Own Love Boat

Purpose

To reignite or refuel the warmth in your marriage.

Coordinates

Celebrity Central

Monday

8:30 AM

90 Minutes

Description

You will take a step back from day-to-day issues and explore and engage with each other over those precious aspects of one another’s character and worth that drew you together and continues to keep you together. Beautiful moments of sharing and appreciation will delight your hearts.

Session 3: Sex Ed for Experienced Couples

Purpose

To learn to talk in a safe, caring, and effective way about the most intimate part of your marriage.

Coordinates

Celebrity Central

Monday

4:00 PM

90 Minutes

Description

Did you know that even in successful marriages, less than 50% of the couple’s sexual experiences are deeply satisfying? Learn about sexual norms, the wonder of how your bodies are really working as you make love, and how to talk about what you are experiencing and enjoying as you make love. You’ll have some homework that we will not be discussing as a group the next morning!

Session 4: Your Safe Harbour

Purpose

To set you up for deeper connection and support around life’s challenges

Coordinates

Sky Conference Room

Tuesday

4:30 PM

60 Minutes

Description

Marriage can be one of life’s strongholds against stress: a safe, secure harbour. Too often, we couples do not know how to effectively make that happen. Building on what you have already learned, you’ll take home tools to make this part of your marriage experience so much richer and your life so much less stressful.

Session 5: Who’s The Captain, Anyways?

Purpose

To learn about power, influence and cooperation in your marriage

Coordinates

Sky Conference Room

Wednesday

4:30 PM

60 Minutes

Description

Since the ship will be docking at an island, each couple will do an Island Survival exercise in the morning to learn more about how to extend inclusion to one another, accept influence, and share power in your marriage. A fun-filled team-building exercise, you will learn how to work together more effectively through the day-to-day challenges of life.

Session 6: Navigating Out of the Storm

Purpose

To transform the way you interact around your most common areas of conflict

Coordinates

Sky Conference Room

Thursday

8:30 AM

60 Minutes

Description

This couple’s exercise produces one of the greatest Aha! moments. You will finally understand why you get stuck on certain issues, how that happens and what is really going on deep inside yourself and your spouse. Equipped with this knowledge, I will show you how to transform those interactions into marriage-building moments rather than marriage-destroying events.

Session 7: Sailing Off Into the Sunset

Purpose

To discover and build a plan for how to lead your lives and marriage toward creating a legacy

Coordinates

Celebrity Central

Friday

8:30 AM

90 Minutes

Description

This is a beautiful, reflective exercise where you will map out your life as it was before this cruise. Then, you will have an opportunity to map out how you would like it to look after the cruise! Working together, you will come up with a plan for changing the most important areas.

Session 8: Wrap-up -- Land Ahoy!

Purpose

To uncover how your marriage will transform by making changes that will last for years to come

Coordinates

Celebrity Central

Friday

4:00 PM

90 Minutes

Description

This closing session will take you through specific tasks to identify and plan how to implement your learning once you are home. We are very purposeful about ensuring this cruise will transform your life rather than just being a flash in the pan. You will identify changes you’re ready to make, share those with each other, and then commit to implementing these once home. Don’t worry, we’ll help you keep it realistic and achievable!

On-board Venue

The beautiful Sky Conference Room aboard the Celebrity Equinox.

Enjoy this comfortable, open space with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Caribbean as you learn and grow!

Veranda

* All prices are in US Dollars. Estimated price based on the latest rates from Celebrity. Special pricing or additional perks may be available based on where you reside. Please use the "Book now" button to contact us so that we can get you a customized quote.

Registration Process

Let us walk you through...

We'll answer any questions you may have, get you registered for the retreat so that you can save your spot, and then secure your stateroom and help with any other travel requirements!

We Know How to Help Marriages

Here's what past cruisers have to say:

“Exceptional Week!”

The Marriage Cruise for Smart Couples was a very special week bringing the relationship between my wife and I to a deeper understanding and appreciation for each other. Our lives were devoted to raising our children and now that they are launched, it seemed like our purpose for all these 20 plus years had come to an end. This week has helped us to set goals and look forward to the next phase of our relationship together, just the two of us. We came to understand and appreciate in a meaningful way what each of us desire in the years to come. It really taught us how to work through our differences and communicate to each other: to be able to talk and to listen with respect. I highly recommend this cruise for understanding and respecting your spouse and growing deeper in your relationship.

DJ & Dawn DeFreece

“Incredible Cruise!”

I am a fan of Caleb & Verlynda's Marriage Podcast for Smart People: my husband Ron is the typical man who resisted marriage counseling. We were empty nesters traveling a divergent path. The cruise gave us hours for conversation, the classes were succinct and provided us many ideas that have brought us back to an appreciation for this life we made together. We look at each other more, at our phones less. We smile and touch and talk more. Caleb and Verlynda are truly gifted. The cruise was the perfect venue for this workshop.

Ron & Nancy Vinsant

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this just for couples with big problems?

No, quite the contrary. This is for couples who want to better adjust to common challenges and otherwise capitalize on their strengths to take their marriage to the next level. Couples who face severe challenges will benefit from this cruise if they have several counselling sessions under their belt before attending. There's still plenty of time to arrange those sessions with Caleb before the cruise leaves! This Cruise is not recommended for abusive marriages. Also, if you or your spouse are in sex addiction recovery, we recommend at least one year of recovery work before participating in our retreats so that you can benefit from the content.

2. Will we have to share about our relationship with other people?

Awkward! No, the seminars and work you will be doing in them is geared towards getting you and your spouse talking to each other, not to other people. We do not do any group therapy sessions or group exercises. All exercises are couple-based.

However, as you mingle with other couples you may find that through casual conversation you have common struggles and will benefit from those interactions. Basically, you can be as private or open as you wish to be.

3. Are we going to have time just to ourselves?

Yes, and plenty of it! Before departing on the cruise, you will have the timing and location of all the seminars on board the ship. We actually asked our research assistant to review the psychological journals and come back to us with research on what makes for the most effective marriage retreats. We based our planning on that evidence-based data.

I do have one recommendation for you and your spouse: try at least one excursion that involves an element of risk. Something out of your comfort zone. Why? Because the research shows that taking risks together increases your attraction to one another! You'll get an adrenaline buzz and a romance boost as well!

4. Can we bring our children?

We recognize that time away from children can be a blessing to parents. However, we also understand this is not always possible! You may certainly choose to bring your family if you like.

Our only stipulation for the retreat is that the seminars are for you and your spouse only.

Celebrity offers a FunFactory option for children up to the age of 12, and KidzClub 13+. If you'd prefer more personal babysitting options during our sessions, we are bringing our three daughters (17, 14 and 12) who love kids and would be happy to earn some extra spending money. If you have questions or would like to set this up, just call or write us using the buttons above.

Hi! We are looking forward to helping you plan an amazing week together! In the Message area below, please provide your home city and state (to check for special pricing) and let us know if you qualify for any discounts (e.g., senior's, military, etc.). Your message comes to my inbox and I will get back to you ASAP! --Caleb